Britain backed to blitz Oscars after Baftas triumph

BEST OF BRITISH: 12 Years A Slave actor Chiwetel Ejiofor from London and co-star Lupita Nyong’o [GETTY]

Hours after the ceremony finished, odds were slashed for a repeat of the success at the flagship film ceremony in Los Angeles next month.

The British movie industry celebrated after space adventure flick Gravity landed six Baftas.

It was beaten to the Best Film award by the harrowing 12 Years A Slave.

But that meant more success for the UK because it is directed by Brit film-maker Steve McQueen, 44, and stars London-born Chiwetel Ejiofor, 36, who also won Best Actor.

The Baftas have always been a good indicator for who will win at the Oscars.

Coral cut 12 Years A Slave from 1-4 to 1-7 to win Best Picture ahead of Gravity at 4-1. The space epic’s Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron, 52, is now 1-20 to win Best Director followed by London-born McQueen at 8-1.

It also cut the odds of Ejiofor winning the Best Actor Oscar from 9-1 to 13-2.

Coral’s Nicola McGeady said: “If the Baftas ceremony is anything to go by, March 2 will be a night of celebration for British talent.”

But William Hill are not predicting quite the same Oscars success for Britain.

They made American Matthew McConaughey, 44, 1-4 favourite to win Best Actor for his role in the Dallas Buyers Club. Wolf Of Wall Street’s Leonardo DiCaprio, 39, is 9-2 followed by Ejiofor at 6-1.

But 12 Years A Slave looks the nailed-on favourite for Best Picture, with the bookie offering odds of 2-9.

William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly said: “The Baftas have shown us a few things heading into the Oscars.”

Stunning Rita Ora skipped the star-studded event to watch a Prince gig in Camden, but popped along to join the party later.